Customer Reviews

The Complete Black Books

5 star:		(6)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Black Books is a hilarious series that is full of ridiculous characters in the same vein as Father Ted, The Vicar of Dibley or Faulty Towers. It was written by Dylan Moran, Graham Linehan, (writer/director of Father Ted), Arthur Mathews, Kevin Cecil and Andy Riley.

Set in a small independent bookshop in the Bloomsbury area of central London. The show is based around the lives and strange antics of the eccentric, alcoholic owner Bernard Black (played by Dylan Moran) and his assistant Manny (played by Bill Bailey), and their friend Fran (played by Tamsin Greig).

The series revolves around Bernard's loathing of the outside world and the people who inhabit it. Bernard displays little enthusiasm or interest in retail (or, indeed, anything outside drinking, smoking and reading) and refuses to interact with the outside world. Many episodes are driven by Manny and Fran's attempts to force him into a more socially acceptable lifestyle. However, as they themselves are remarkably ill-equipped to interact with the world outside the shop, their efforts usually result in chaos, sucking them back into Bernard's weird view of the world.

The series is notable for its surreal and off-beat sense of humour, particularly when regarding the state of the shop; it is frequently depicted to be in an unhealthy state of dirtiness, with sea-water molluscs living on the water pipes and, when it is in a particularly bad state, dead badgers blocking the way.

There are three seasons of Black Books, each with six episodes. At the time that I am writing this review the price is under 25 dollars for the complete series, that is the same price as the first season sold separately on Amazon an outstanding price. The cases are not the cheap plastic that is sometimes used when a series is sold complete. Buy this set you won't regret it.
The Complete Black Books

If the name is unknown, you have seen him recently as Simon Pegg's best friend in Run Fat Boy Run and in Shaun of the Dead. Dylan Moran writes and stars in the funniest Britcom I have seen in years. The extra commentaries on the disc are even funnier than the shows. This one bears watching over and over. It's a keeper!

One of my friends who lives in South England gave me a sneak peek of this comedy jewel. It's the new Britt-Com classic of our time and its FINALLY in a collection in North America, if you ever watched Spaced or Peep Show or any of the new faces of comedy then why are you not putting this in your Britt-Com collection now. You'll enjoy it. Unless you hate Wine drinking, unhygienic, complaining Irishmen.

Based on a prior review, I risked ordering the complete set. The first episode, I found laugh out loud creatively funny; then the rest of Series One mostly disappointingly puerile, emphasizing the drinking and not the eccentricity of the characters at all, with only occasional laughs and interesting situations. I wondered if I'd erred in ordering, but Series Two is wonderfully back up to the unique hilarity of the Premiere episode, with the eccentric characters and the unique situations in which they seem to find themselves or make for themselves. Have yet to watch Series Three, but can have high hopes.

This has got to be one of the funniest shows I have seen in a long time. My only complaint is that it's only three seasons long - I want more!

Dylan Moran is a genius - and the remainder of the cast is well suited to bring this unusual book shop to life. More wine anyone?

If you love British comedy, you'll love the classic off-the-wall comedy series, Black Books. This Complete Black Books DVD set offers unbelievable quality and value. You won't be disappointed.

I found this series (that I never knew existed) by doing an Amazon search of British comedies. I took a bit of a risk in ordering it but after watching it I ordered two more sets for family members who like me, enjoy British Humour.

This series, based on three unique characters brought together to play off one another, is great. One could almost smell grungy Bernard Black right through the screen and feel for shy Manny. But the third wheel, Fran (similar to Sienfeld's Elaine) loves them both and is the glue that holds them together.

I highly recommend this series to people who enjoy the British humour for humour's sake and extreme silliness.